Shaving mechanism



Jan. 23, 1945. w. J. NEIDIG 2,367,686

SHAVING MECHANISM Filed Mayy '7, 1941 F195 0 1 ib of the openings lying between a range of teeth,

Patented Jan.v23, 1945 'UNITED STATES vsmivnvo. MEcnANlsM william Jonathan News, Napoleon, ohio- Application May 7, 1941, Serial No. 392,242

Claims.

The invention described herein relates to the class of mechanisms designed to replace the razor in removing the beard as in shaving.

Mechanisms of this kind in present use commonly employ a sheet-metal comb of some kind as one of the cutting elements, the comb being supplied with openings throughwhich the beard projects to be sheared ofi by cutters moving behind it. These openings commonly have the form or of the openings in a. colander sieve; commonly they are, only half as wide as the teeth or other dening structure. As a consequence only'a portion of the. beard reaches the cutting elements at their rst passage and avenues of beard untouched by the cutters remain to be shaved offlater. Moreover, even theshaved portions of the skin commonly have the beard removed a1; a height above skin level determined by the thick ness of the comb.

In my mechanism the comb lyingbetween the movable cutting .element .and the skin is disi pensed with, one of my objects being to provide for a closer shaving action. In my mechanism the rst passage of the cutting elements across the skin results in the removal of the beard from all portions of it as completely as if a razor had passed over it, one of my objects being to attain that result. Moreover, a further object is to supply a mechanism in which all cutting parts are sturdy enough to be hardened, and in which keenercutting edges can be maintained, and in which the cutting parts Acan be maintained in closer cutting relationship, and in which the cost of manufacture is lessened. A -further object is to supply amechanism in which the actuation can be either by a reciprocating or a rotating agency, and in which the cutting may be done in one direction only or in both. Still a further object is to supply a construction in which the danger of woundingthe skin is lessened to an extent that guards may be dispensed with if desired. Other objects are as described hereinafter.

I attain my several objects through the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingI drawing,

' in which Fig. 1 is a front view of one of my embodiments, with the casing partlybroken away.

Fig. 2 is a view chieiiy in section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. of the principal parts thereof, en-

larged. l

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section on the line 3, Fig. 2, of some of the peripheral cutters and bearers carried by member 1, further emerged.

Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3, except that the bearers are shown in circular section, instead of square.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of member 7 with its cutters and bearers. together with portions of the cooperating stationary cutter, on the same scale as Fig. 2. A-

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the same scale of another embodiment of cutting and bearer elements, but with the stationary cutter omitted.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a still further embodiment, showing only dierences in the construction. 1 v

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the bearer and cutter parts respectively used in the embodiments shown in Figs.A 6 and 7.

Similar symbols of reference refer to similar parts in the several drawings.

The embodiment illustrated ,in Figs. 1v to 5 makes use of revoluble moving parts and revoluble actuation. I show it for operation by a suitable motor of approved construction such as is commonly employed in mechanical shavers.. Such motors are well known and need not be described. The motor in its frame or casing is. indicated at I and the shaft rotated thereby at 2. Attached to this casing by screws 3 is the supporting frame or casing 4 of my novel cutting devices. The end of shaft 2 is journaled for convenience at 5 in supporting frame 4, and the axles 6 of a revoluble 30 cutter-carrier 1 are also journaled in casing 4, an attached bevel gear 8 on shaft 2 meshing with an attached bevel gear 9 on axle 6 to rotate it. The precise character and form of the driving means is immaterial, as is also the length and diameter of member 1 and the manner and position ofv its mounting. g

Carrier 1 of this embodiment is of substantially cylindrical iigure. As shownmin the drawing it is constructed by forming a he1ica1 thread in the periphery of an axled cylinder of small diameter, the helical thread preferably having a narrow pitch and preferably-cut using a threading tool ofl steep-sided figure. The ridges oi the squarethreaded screw resulting are then milledthrough in axis direction forming longitudinal channels or depressions,` as shown in Fig. 2, leaving helically disposed cutters, indicated at I0, either endface of which is adapted to cooperate ina shearing action with1 suitable stationary cutting agencies. 'I'hese teeth or cuttersv I0 are separated angularly by thel milled-out channels referred to,

indicated at I I, and theyare separated in axis direction. that is to say longitudinally of member 1, by the thread-troughs I2, Figs. 3 and 4.

Channels II may be oi any desired width or depth.

I prefer to deepen them below the iloor of threadtroughs I2, 'and so show them, but they need not be so deep. I prefer to givevthem a longitudinal direction departing from an4 axial line, so that cutters I whose faces they form may engage with a straight-line stationary cutter in succession instead of simultaneously, but they need not be given such a spiral disposition. I prefer to give them as great an angular width as. possible, reducing the angular thickness of the teeth defining them as much as possible. so that recesses later described between cutters I0 may have as much length in circumferential direction as possible. In the drawing I show member 'I as having four of Athese channels II, separating four rows of cutters I0, but the number of them is immaterial. A greater number would give member 'l a greater number of cutters I0, but would decrease the angular distance between the rowsof cutters.

It will be noted that an easily machined milling cut II in longitudinal direction upon a cylinder of small diameter threaded as described will result in forming peripheral cutter teeth having faces of an angle that is very favorable for cutting. As shown this is sharply greater than 90.

It will be noted also that the helical disposition of cutters I0 about the periphery of member I staggers them with respect to the zones in which they rotate, so that their cutting action overlaps..

leaving nohiatuses in such action along a cooperating stationary longitudinal cutting edge.

My invention is in part directed toward the construction of theperipheral cutters illustrated in this embodiment or those following. It is more largely directed at combining their use, or the use of any such, with that of a stationary cutter through a novel combination that includes what may be called bearer agencies or bearer structure. This can best be described in connection with its principal functions.

I prefer to employ as a stationary cutter a longitudinally extending blade supplied with an unbroken knife-edge or razor-edge, such an edge being thinner than a shear-edge, and therefore aifording closer shaving, and also possessing su-- perior cutting advantage, but the edge need not be a knife-edge, nor the cutter be of any precise form. In the rdrawing such an edged cutter blade is indicated at I3. In'this case the cutter is supplied with a longitudinal hollow I8 (Fig. 2) of circular section, of a radius corresponding to that of peripheral cutters I0 on carrier 1, into whichcarrier 'I is nested, the hollow assisting in holding the blade in operative position irrespective of inexpert adjustments and irrespective of wear or heat warpings, but this-construction is not essential. Cutter I3 is shown as readily removable through the loosening of screws I5, -as for exchange replacement, and as supported on frame 4.

It will be noted that the construction illustrated, embodying a blade supplied with a hollow in which a cutter carrier of circular peripheryl can be nested, can be used to advantage in some `cases independently of the carrier structure desiderations become important: 1. 'I'he speed of the movable cutters past the stationary is very great and the cutting action is repeated many times a second. This must be made possible. 2. The closest shearing action possible to attain is required between them. 3. Interference between the delicate cutting edges must be avoided. 4. I'he wear from use tends to destroy delicate permanent adjustments. 5. The cutting action itself tends to warp thin cutting edges out of plane. 6. The heat of use also tends to warp them. 7. Adjustments must not be sensitive beyond the ability of the average user to make. 8. Iriction between the cutters must be kept low, not only because of wear but because of the heat Y generated at high speeds, which quickly becomes objectionable. v

My bearer invention is directed at both the iirst and the second of these groups.

In the drawing it is illustrated in the case of the present embodiment by circumferentiallyextending smooth-surfaced peripheral bearer structure of even radius with the cutting edges ot cutters I0. This structure is elongated and narrow, like wire, and is preferably of square section, like the ridges between thread-troughs I2. It is indicated at I4. Since it is of small diameter it is preferably of the quality of music wire.V It is shown as threaded into thread-troughs I2, and as filling them evenly (Fig. 3), and as crossing channels Il at substantially peripheral surface level, segmental areas of which are defined by this structure and becomelkdepressions of elongated rectangular figure defined at the ends by cutters I0. Depressions of the same iigure similarly defined would be obtained by threading elongated narrow material like that described into channels II crossways of thread-troughs I2, in which case the ridges between the threadtroughs would act as bearer structure and the material `closing the thread-troughs would become the peripheral cutting agencies. Since this material would entirely close channels Il, it

vnarrower or wider.

would act at the ridges as part of the ridge structure, and therefore as part of the'bearer structure.

The purpose of the elongated cutter-and-l bearer-deflned depressions is to provide recesses for the beard-stubble to project into, past the cutting level. These depressions are indicated at i6. They are shown as of elongated iigure, in order to give the ,beard-stubble more time to spring into cuttingl position, but they are not necessarily elongated, nor are they necessarily rectangular. They are shown as of narrow width, in order that the'skin may be permitted only the shallowest protrusion into them, or none at all, but their width may be as desired, whether The bearer structure deiining theirside edges is shown as of even radius with cutters Il l, but in some uses may be slightly lower, the Iheight shown being preferable.

Such construction provides for an unobstructed support of the skin by bearer structure at cutting level While preventing all injury thereto by the cutters, and provides for the free springing into cutting position of all the beard stubble at the iirst passage of the cutting-head.

It will be noted that my bearer structure may be used for the sake of skin-supporting function structure I4 is shown as attached upon carrier 1.

by soldering, as at II, Fig. 2, but when such structure is assembled into thread-troughs I2 by dishaft 6.

accuse rect windlng,.the use of solder is not always necessary. Such structure is sometimes formed into helical coils and then threaded into the thread-troughs in screw fashion. Fig. 3 shows the construction as employing wire-like matevrial of square sectionforl bearer structure, and

Fig. 4 shows the same construction, using material of circular section.

The drawing shows stationary cutter I3 as supplied with a knife-edge, as has been explained. Cutter I3 is pressed yieldingly against bearers i4 by light springs I5, Fig. 2, attached upon frame 4.

It is clear that the introduction of an intermediate bearer support of the nature of that described enables any such cutter to cooperate with such movable cutters in as close a cutting action as may be desired, with the elimination of all possibility of interference.

It will be noted that the construction described supplies a movable cutter' memberthat will cut equally well when rotated in either direction, so that right-handed and left-handed operation can be provided using the same cutters.

A usual guard is shown at 2li, 'although not always needed. Its position and form are immaterial. upon casing l by screws.

The mechanism described operates as follows: as the operator passes it over the skin to be shaved, in a movement advancing the edge of cutter I3 against the beard stubble, the rotation of member I brings recesses I6 down over the ends of the beard, or the beard finds its way into the recesses, and a cutter Il) shears it off against the edge of cutter I3 close to the skin. Since the cutting action of cutters III overlaps along cutter I3, no portion of the beard is missed. The narrowness sf the pitch of bearers I4 prevents the rotation of cutters IIJA from affecting the skin, and the position of cutter I3 against member I prevents its edge from injuring the skin. The beard is afforded free access into 'cutting position by the unobstructed recesses I6. The construction, and the quality of the cutting edges made possible by it, produce as a result a shaving action of maximum closeness over the entire Surface of the skin covered at a single stroke of the shaver.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9 differs from that just described in the construction of the movable cutters. In this embodiment a revoluble cutter-carrier lb, corresponding to carrier 1 described, is shown as interchangeable with it. When so exchanged itis connected to the driving means I in the same manner; through shaft 2 and bevel gears 8 and 9, and cooperates with the same stationary cutter I3 in the same manner, being supplied with peripheral cutters and peripheral bearers of even radius. Instead of being disposed about member I in helical pattern, however, like cut-v ters I0, its cutters Ib are disposed upon member Ib in the pattern of an inclinedannulus, and they are flanked in axis direction by inclined annular bearers Il, and separated angularly by annularly disposed recesses lib of depressed figure.

The construction of member 'Ib shown in the drawing makes use of bearer and cutter disks, as of sheet metal, pierced with holes 2l (Figs. 8 and 9), these being assembled alternately upon 'I'he bearer disks are shown in Fig. 8 and the cutter disks in Fis. 9. The number of Itis shown as removably attachedperipheral cutters II)h on the cutter disks is immaterial. The assembled disks are slightly tilted, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to rotate eccentrically, thereby giving peripheral cutters III on thecutter disks paths of rotation that bring them into an overlapping cutting action along stationary cutter I3. Short oblique cylinders 22 at either end of the assembly assist'in maintaining the disks in inclined position, and a clamping nut 23 on the threaded end portion of shaft 6b holds them against a shoulder at the other end of the shaft. After assembling, the disks are brazed together or' sweated together with solder into a cylindrical unit, and then fine-ground to a circular section, so as to bring cutters I0b and bearers I4b to the same radius and supply a smooth supporting bearer surface for cutter I3. Fig. 5 shows the assembled disks in one position of extreme throw, with the cutters I0 angularly positioned to give them an overlapping action. When member 'ID is rotated, the four cutters IIIb on each cutter disk weave back and forth overlappingly along stationary cutter I3, in an action that completely occupies cutter I3 from end to end without hiatuses, insuring a cutting action over the full surface of the skin passing under them, while bearers I4b insure against the interference of the cutting edges, and against an accidental injury of the skin.

As will be seen, the construction described permits the use of bearers very closely spaced longitudinally, down to a distance barely suillcient to permit entry of the beard into recesses I6, I prefer to employ a spacing for them as narrow as can be conveniently kept clean. However narrow the cutters Illb may be, their cutting action can be made to overlap. The tilting required to attain the overlapping result is very small. The oblique disposition of cutters afforded by such tilting can of course be altered favorably and unfavorably for such overlapping.

Whether the bearer surfaces are disposed obliquely helix-wise at a constant angle, as in Fig. 5, or at varying angles cam-wise, as in Fig. 6, the oblique construction serves to give the intermediate cutters individual cutting paths that may be merged or overlapped at will. ItV also serves to distribute Vthe friction of contact upon the skin. and upon the 'cooperating stationary cutting member, whatever form it may have, and .by itssheets, but the sheet material employed need not' necessarily be at nor inclined, the edge portions alone forming the pattern.

Whether the rotatable member be of cylindrical figure or not, or whether it be constructed for full rotation or for partial reciprocating rotation, or whether the bearer surfaces on it be elongated to one extent or another, is immaterial. 'I'he illustrated bearer feature of the invention as before centers upon the cooperative shielding and A supporting action of smooth-surfaced skin-supporting and edge-supporting close-spaced bearer surfaces, the cutting action being performed by bearer-shielded rotating cutters and bearershielded bearer-positioned bearer-supported stationary cutting edges of any approved type, the narrowness of the recesses enabling the bearer structure to support such edges throughout the cutting action in close adjacence to such action.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7 makes use of the same bearer disks of Fig. 8 and cutter disks of Fig. 9, and of the same shaft 6b with its clamping nut 23, Oblique cylinders 22 are however omitted, the assembled disks I in this embodiment not being tilted. The resulting revoluble member 1 is illustrated in the figure. 'I'his member can be used in place oi either member 1 or member 1b, and cooperates with stationaly cutter I3 in the same way. Its component give cutters Iiih and4 bearers Mb the same radius, and bearers Mb a smooth surface, against which cutter i3 may rest.-

spacings forming beard-receiving recesses, the bearer structure having a smooth surface and forming close-spaced shielding supports and guides on either side of the recesses, the cutters having angular positions giving them paths of rotation that do not coincide.

3. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable cutting and supporting member having a construction including spaced, shaped, thina disks are brazed together or otherwise combinedv I into an operative unit. and then fine-ground to The shaving action of this embodiment differs I Both this embodiment and the' one shown in Fig.l

6 have the advantage in some uses that the bearers anking the revoluble cutters to protect the skin therefrom need not 'themselves in all cases `be revoluble, the annular arrangement of cutters 'permitting independent support for them( It will b noted that while in both of the two embodiments last described I show the peripheral cutting structure and the peripheral bearer structure as borne upon separate disks, yit is not in ail cases advantageous, except to simplify assembling, that such structure be borne upon separate disks, It will be noted also that all of the forms of the invention shown provide a movable cuttermember that vwill operate when given part rotation only, and when the direction of rotation is reversed. It will be noted as well that'I have shown and described not only an improved shaving mechanism, but novel detail constructions as well, useful in other shaving mechanisms.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: av

bodied sheet material supported edgewise 4in multiplied parallel pattern, the edges forming :spaced bearer surfaces, and including also bearershielded cutters having positions across the spacings, said spaced edges extending obliquely in ro.. tational direction, the spacings forming beard receiving recesses, and a cooperating stationary cutting member having a cutting level established through contact with the bearer surfaces.

4. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable cutting and supporting member of cy- 'lindrical figure having a, `construction including spaced thin metal disks assembled for unit operation upon a common axis, said disks having edge portions oblique' to their paths of rotation and forming close-spaced bearers having paths of rotation broader than their width, and including also thin-bodied peripheral cutters flush with and intermediate the bearers, and a cooperating stationary cutting member having sliding contact relations with the bearer surfaces.

5. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable cutting and supporting member having a construction `comprising multiple thin sheetmetal disks bonded together for unit operation "upon a common axis, edge portions of said disks being fashioned into elongated bearer supports and edged portions being fashionedinto cutting structures, the bearer surfaces being alternated axially with the cutting structures, the edges of the disks lying in planes oblique to the plane of rotation,A and a stationary cutting member cooperating with said cutting structures and receiv- 'ing distributed support from the bearer surfaces.

6. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable cutting vand supporting member of cylindrical figure comprising multiple supporting disks and cutting disks bound together in alternating sequence upon a common axis, the supporting disks having peripheral portions fashioned into bearer stru-:ture of smooth surface, the cutting disks having peripheral portions fashioned into peripheral cutters spaced by cut-away rerotatable cutting and supporting member having shielded cutters and spaced bearer structure thereon', the cutters having positions across the spacings, 'the bearer structure having smooth, elongated, skin-contacting surfaces dened at the S'Dcnsslbynedges oblique to their paths of rotation and...op 'arating to guide beard-endsinto cutting position and to form shielding, distributed support for the skin, the spacings forming beardreceiving recesses, and a stationary cutting member cooperating with said cutters and said bearer structure in a protected, distributed cutting action at skin level.

2. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a

ces'ses, said several disks being mounted obliquely to their axis.

7. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable cutting and supporting member of cylindrical gure having a construction including spaced thin metal disks assembled for unit operation upon a common axis, said disks having rim portions oblique to their paths of rotation, said rim portions forming close-spaced bearers of smooth surface and elongated figure having paths of rotation broader than their width, and including also thin-bodied cutters ilush with and intermediate the bearers.

8. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable member having a skin-contacting surface comprising the surface portions of spaced elongated bearer structure extending in rotational rotatable cutting and supporting member having a construction comprising elongated spaced bearer structure defined by edges oblique to their paths of rotation. and comprising spaced cutters -spacings forming hair-receiving recesses, the

bearer structure forming close-spaced cooperat- 1118 SUDDOrts of smooth surface, and a cooperatiiush with and intermediate the spaced edges, the 16 ing stationary cutter in shielded sliding contact with the bearer surfaces, being supported thereby at the level of the rotatable cutters.

9. In a shaving mechanism, in combination: a rotatable cutting andsupporting member of cylindrical figure having a construction comprising spaced helically disposed peripheralbearer structure elongated in rotational directiony and comprising angularly separated cutters ush with and intermediate the bearer structure at the spacings, the spacings forming hair-receiving recesses. the bearer structure forming close-spaced shielding supports of smooth surface, and a-cooperating stationary critter in shielded sliding contact with the bearer surfaces and supported thereby at varying points.`

10. In a shaving mechanism. in combination: a rotatable member having a construction comprising spaced elongated bearer structure extending in rotational direction in helical pattern, and comprising angularly separated cutters flush with and intermediate the bearer structure, the spacings forming narrow-ported beard-receiving recesses; the bearer structure forming close-spaced WILLIAM JONATHAN 'NEmIG. 

